Skip to main content

Search the Special Collections and Archives Portal

Jewish Nevada Records (MS-00602)

Abstract

The Jewish Nevada Records document the organization's philanthropic activities in Las Vegas, Nevada from 1978 to 2018. The majority of the collection represents the organization's activities under the name the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas. The collection includes administrative files, annual reports, marketing materials, donation records, video recordings of interviews and events, and audio recordings of board meetings. The collection also includes photographic prints and negatives of events hosted by Jewish Nevada.

Finding Aid PDF

Date

1978 to 2018
bulk 1999 to 2004

Extent

93.50 Cubic Feet (82 boxes, 10 flat files, 5 folders (shared box))
101.34 Linear Feet
8 digital_files (0.460 GB) MP3, MP4

Related People/Corporations

Creator: Jewish Nevada

Scope and Contents Note

The Jewish Nevada Records document the organization's philanthropic activities in Las Vegas, Nevada from 1978 to 2018. The majority of the collection represents the organization's activities under the name the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas. The collection includes administrative files, annual reports, marketing materials, donation records, video recordings of interviews and events, and audio recordings of board meetings. The collection also includes photographic prints and negatives of events hosted by Jewish Nevada.

Access Note

Collection is open for research, with the exception of materials noted at the series level that are restricted to protect personally identifiable information. Records must be reviewed for protected information prior to public access. Requests for access for restricted materials must be made in advance to allow time for the materials to be reviewed. Please contact Special Collections and Archives to arrange access.

Publication Rights

Materials in this collection may be protected by copyrights and other rights. See Reproductions and Use on the UNLV Special Collections and Archives website for more information about reproductions and permissions to publish.

Arrangement

This collection is organized into eight series:

Series I. Administrative files, 1954-2012;

Series II. Event and conference photographs, 1983-2007;

Series III. Meeting photographs, 1999-2007;

Series IV. Women's Division photographs, 1998-2005;

Series V. Business and Professional Division photographs, 1999-2004;

Series VI. Video recordings, 1988-2006;

Series VII. Posters, 2001-2009;

Series VIII. 2016 addition, 1960s-2000s;

Series VIX. 2021 addition, 2014-2018.

Biographical / Historical Note

The non-profit, Jewish Nevada, is the central coordinating body for fundraising, planning, allocations, and community services for the Jewish community in Las Vegas, Nevada and serves as the local chapter of the Jewish Federations of North America. The Las Vegas chapter has served the community since the 1960s and has raised several million dollars to support Jewish and humanitarian causes in Las Vegas, Israel, and in 59 other countries around the world.

The first major Jewish fund-raising organization in Las Vegas was the United Jewish Appeal. In 1947 it raised $40,000 for Jews in Europe and Palestine, the highest per-capita contribution in the United States. Las Vegas casino executives Moe Sedway, Jake Kozloff, Gus Greenbaum, Sam Tucker, and Moe Dalitz all served as chairs of the organization.

The United Jewish Appeal became the Las Vegas Combined Jewish Appeal during the 1960s, which was the first nationally recognized Jewish organization in Southern Nevada. The leadership also changed, with more involvement from members outside of the gaming industry. Jerome D. Mack served as the first president, followed by community leaders Arthur Marshall, Lloyd Katz, and Dorothy Eisenberg. After Jerry Countess was hired as the first director of the organization around 1975, the Combined Jewish Appeal founded the Jewish Family Service Agency and started publishing a newspaper called the Jewish Reporter. In November 1979 it affiliated with about 800 other chapters at the National Council of Jewish Federations, and became the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas.

In 2003 the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas affiliated with the national umbrella organization United Jewish Communities, now known as the Jewish Federations of North America. The Las Vegas organization was briefly known as the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas/United Jewish Community (JFLV/UJC). Local beneficiary organizations of Jewish Federation funds in 2014 included Las Vegas Senior Lifeline; JewEL (Jewish Emerging Leaders); Hillel at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the University of Nevada, Reno; Jewish Information and Volunteer Service (JIVS); Jewish Community Foundation; and more. The Jewish Federation describes itself as "Las Vegas’ Center for Jewish Philanthropy and Community Development" committed to the values of "Tikkun Olam (repairing the world); Tzedakah (righteousness and philanthropy); and G’milut Hasadim (acts of kindness and service)." In 2016 the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas changed their name to Jewish Nevada.

Sources:

Marschall, John P. Jews in Nevada: a history. Reno: University of Nevada Press, 2008.

"About Us." Jewish Federation of Las Vegas. Accessed February 17, 2015. http://jewishlasvegas.com/about-us.

Preferred Citation

Jewish Nevada Records, 1978-2018. MS-00602. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Nevada, Nevada.

Acquisition Note

Materials were donated in 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2021 by the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas and Barbara Tabach; accession numbers 2013-025, 2015-036, 2016-064, 2021-059.

Processing Note

In 2014, Tom Sommer and Lindsay Oden processed the materials and created the finding aid in ArchivesSpace. In 2015, Emily Lapworth processed the 2015 addition. In 2016, Maggie Bukowski and Tammi Kim accessioned the 2016 addition. In 2021, Tammi Kim accessioned the 2021 addition and updated the finding aid.

Resource Type

Records

Collection Type

EAD ID

US::NvLN::MS00602

Storage Location

Some material in this collection is stored in the Lied Automated Storage and Retrieval Unit (LASR). Advanced notice is required to access these materials.

Separated Materials

The publication Jewish Reporter was separated and added to the periodical section of Special Collections and Archives.

Finding Aid Description Rules

Describing Archives: A Content Standard
English